After Saeo had passed, Solsus had decided that Renka was a traitor and the Amayans were his accomplice for Saeo's assassination. It was because of the rumors that Renka had killed Saeo for his Amayan lover.
Even though Renka was cursed by the mage in my place, my curse from the life before had still followed me in my second life. I remembered the familiar sensation of the curse burning in my veins as my instincts took control over me during the war.
I had slaughtered friend and foe, the infected and the uninfected. I am an infected, but I suppose my will to live for Saeo had overrided the chains of my sins. And alast, the war had continued.
"This must be around the time that Redhead has been born," I thought to myself during the nights of the war. Redhead had the smell of a mortal, but her blood was not all mortal. She was definitely related to that half mix. Her eyes showed it.
The Solsarians had gained control over the country of Topaz, Zerium, and the Amayan kingdoms of the dragon clans. Shia and I helped Amayans and inside rebels escape from the dictatorship of Solsus. However, Solsus had a plan to strike the Zarqas since they had strong negotiations with Amaya, and because Renka had betrayed Solsus, Exeme was the next in line to inherit his role as leader of the Haras.
It was time I had shared my knowledge with Shia. I told him about my second chance of life and my contract partner, the red head. Shia helped me bail her out of the slave industry before she was sold off. I was annoyed by the fact that she was in another place of misery.
"I thought you were trying to make a better life this time, Red!" I yelled at her.
"I-I did! I was able to change things and I'm grateful for the chance you gave me and for saving me from slavery! But now I'm happy! I have my family! I have my Lex! They're waiting for me! So isn't our contract over?! Can't you leave me alone now? I was able to use my chances, weren't you?!" she asked me.
I was silent for awhile. So she was able to make her changes in life. I wasn't able to make the changes I wanted, but in order to make the changes that I can do at the moment, I need her by my side.
"You've been able to change what you wanted to change, but I haven't. Not yet. I still need my second chance. And for that to happen, I'll need you by my side where I can see you and protect you. Otherwise our contract will become annulled. You wouldn't want that would you? For everything that you've worked for to go to waste? If not, then believe in me, trust me, and allow me to protect you, so we can protect those who we care for and survive through this war!" I told her.
She wasn't pleased by my answer, but she finally accepted her fate in my hands.
We had arrived at the doorsteps of her home.
It was a beautifully crafted stone mansion, decorated with lilies.
"Saiya!" a young man called out to her.
"Lex!" redhead ran into his arms.
"Where have you been?! We searched everywhere for you!" he placed his hands around her face and lovingly pressed his head against hers.
She told them what had happened at the market and her family welcomed us into their home.
It was a little awkward for me to look into the eyes of the dead man I had met in the well. He was healthy, lively, and happy.
So I was right.
Their voices and smiles were welcoming, but the other woman resembling red head gave me creepy annoying vibes. I would sometimes catch her staring at me randomly and she would look away and whistle or pretend to be doing something else. And one day, I had enough of the awkward staring.
"Hey redhead number two! Why do you keep eyeing me suspiciously like a lion sneaking up to its prey?!"I confronted her.
"Geh! I-I'm doing no such thing. I don't know what you mean," she sang," And just call me Esther."
"You know it's not nothing when you've been doing this every single day!" I glared at her.
"Ha. Ha. Ha. Nope. It must be your imagination," she nervously smiled.
"No, it's not. So hurry up and tell me what's going on in your head," I told her," Honestly, your husband seems to be very smart, but he has no powers. And you, you do. Why are you hiding them? Is this supposed to be a secret or something? You smell kinda burnt with a hint of Amayan blood," I said to her.
She sighed and finally gave in,"Why do you mutts have such a strong sense of smell. Your only skills are your claws and your nose. But I suppose, I'll credit you for bringing my dear Saiya back to us."
She began to giggle," Hehe, that's right mutt. I'm no mortal. I'm part of the dragon clan. I evacuated from Zerium because of the intense witch hunts. I thought that if I had escaped and married into a family, I would be safe. But because I had no noble blood and ended up falling in love with Tera, the color of my hair brought prejudice to our family, aiming for our heads just because I wasn't an insider. I hope you'll continue to stay by Saiya's side. I know she's deeply in love and happy right now, but I know the future that awaits us, may doom her into walking on a path alone. Perhaps lost and lonely. But if you were to continue to stay by her side, I'm sure her road won't be as lonely."
Esther gazed out into the rainy night.
This information wasn't really helpful. I was feeling stuffy, and began to walk out of the room,"I don't get it. What does this have to do with you staring at me?!" I yelled," You make no sense, woman-"
"I know about your contract," she said and I halted.
"Ah, I mean, contracts," she taunted with an eery smile," Don't worry, I know you need Saiya alive for your own reasons. And just as your reasons are important to you, it's important for me and Tera that Saiya is alive and well, too. As long as you keep up with the contracts and keep her safe, I won't kill you, mutt."
"Why you!" I growled.
"Woah, now. Everyone calm down. I don't know what's going on, but you two need to calm down and head to the dinner table. The next few days are going to be difficult for all of us, so go on now," Tera shooed us outside.
I grit my teeth and called out,"Witch lizard!"
"Grimy mutt!" she retaliated.
We had headed into the dinner hall, but the scene we watched, scratched the pit of my stomache.
"Saiya, I don't know what will happen in the future. But know this. I will always love you and keep you safe. I don't know much of how this Kyuro guy is credible, but I don't really trust him," Lex said to Saiya.
"Aww, are you worried? Jealous?" she teased him.
"Yeah.. a little. He's a man you know. And I'm also a knight. I can protect you just as much as he can. I don't understand why your father trusts him so much," he said.
"Don't worry, Lex. Father just wants to maintain a strong relationship with allies. The war may turn for a worse that we've never known before. And having many strong allies will be good for us," she said as she pulled him in for a kiss.
Maybe it was my curse boiling the blood in my heart, but I couldn't stand them being next to eachother.
"Bleck! Can you two get a room? We're here to eat, not eat eachother," I interrupted them.
They both flushed red and hurried to their seats.
"How long have you been there?!" Lex asked.
"Just enough to hurl," I replied.